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Public · 4-year

Worcester State University

Worcester, Massachusetts

70
B
DR Rating
DegreeReturn Rating — Strong value

A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.

Strong return
+$129,750 over 10 years

Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.

Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.

3.2 yrs
Break-even
+214%
10-year ROI
$64,038
Median earnings as of 2024
77% of Worcester State University students earn more than a typical U.S. high-school graduate (about $28,000/yr) ten years after starting — measured from IRS tax records, not surveys.

The numbers behind the verdict

$13,381
Average net price / yr as of 2024
$64,038
Median earnings (5 yr) as of 2024
$40,183
Median earnings (1 yr) as of 2024
$19,500
Median debt at graduation as of 2024
62%
Graduation rate as of 2024
77%
Earn more than a HS grad as of 2024
77%
Repaying their loans (3 yr) as of 2024
78%
Retention rate as of 2024

Lifetime ROI: the long view

Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.

$129,750
After 10 years
$320,130
After 20 years
$510,510
After 30 years
$700,890
After 40 years

Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.

Equity & access

Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.

By gender
Women
$51,245
Men
$73,607

30% gap between the two groups

By family-income background
From lower-income families
$53,534
From higher-income families
$61,888

13% gap between the two groups

By student status (FAFSA)
Dependent students
$57,560
Independent students
$63,041

9% gap between the two groups

36%
First-generation students
44%
Take federal student loans
89%
Born in the U.S.
Who studies here
White 59%Hispanic 19%Asian 6%Black 10%Other 7%

Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.

Net price by family income

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.

Family incomeAverage net price / yr
Family income $0–$30k$8,793
$30k–$48k$9,629
$48k–$75k$9,540
$75k–$110k$13,658
$110k+$19,679

How Worcester State University compares

This college against the Massachusetts and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.

Graduate earnings over time

Median earnings of Worcester State University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.

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Best-paying majors at Worcester State University

Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.

MajorCredentialEarnings (5 yr)Median debt10-yr ROIVerdict
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAssociate's$89,927$19,500+1,227%Strong return
BiotechnologyAssociate's$87,125$17,455+1,172%Strong return
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralAssociate's$79,279$20,500+901%Strong return
ChemistryAssociate's$69,948+832%Strong return
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsAssociate's$77,384$25,000+803%Strong return
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAssociate's$68,157$19,500+584%Strong return
Biology, GeneralAssociate's$67,630$21,043+557%Strong return
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsAssociate's$66,498$21,050+524%Strong return
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCertificate$76,480+488%Strong return
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCertificate$72,190+408%Strong return
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesAssociate's$61,578$20,564+384%Strong return
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsAssociate's$55,146$21,000+195%Strong return
SociologyAssociate's$54,599$22,500+175%Strong return
Communication and Media StudiesAssociate's$53,556$20,149+151%Strong return
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, OtherAssociate's$53,851$24,938+147%Strong return
Psychology, GeneralAssociate's$52,586$19,955+123%Strong return
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesCertificate$57,523$21,166+105%Strong return
HistoryAssociate's$48,516$24,680-2%Poor return
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsAssociate's$44,840$20,297-105%Poor return
English Language and Literature, GeneralAssociate's$43,186$21,500-152%Poor return

Calculate your own ROI

Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.

ROI at Worcester State University

Or pick your to set cost

Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.

10-yr net gain
Break-even
10-yr ROI

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Admissions & profile

88%
Admission rate
1,150
Average SAT
24
Median ACT
3,930
Undergraduates

Location

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.

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